Mattis, Pompeo stunned by CIA ‘black sites’ report

Trump himself did little to quell the unease about the document on Wednesday, telling ABC News he believes waterboarding “works,” though he added he would defer to Mattis and Pompeo on the issue.

The defense secretary and CIA director have signaled they oppose reinstating Bush-era interrogation practices. The CIA declined to comment on the draft executive order on Wednesday, and a Pentagon spokesman pointed to Spicer’s remarks.

Despite the questions about who wrote the document, more than a half-dozen lawmakers issued statements denouncing it. They’re likely trying to get out front of any attempt by Trump to return the country to now-outlawed interrogation techniques.